Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, will introduce a "bill of rights" for essential workers as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact nearly every aspect of Americans' lives.
Warren told The Washington Post, "Essential workers are the backbone of our response to the coronavirus. They are putting their health and the health of their loved ones on the line to keep our country running — and we need to have their backs."
Warren and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., plan to introduce the legislation Monday. It would ask Congress to provide essential workers with higher pay, universal paid sick leave, and job security. Most states have some form of stay-at-home orders in place in order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but a significant number of workers — grocery store employees, first responders, childcare workers, and people who work in the healthcare field, among others — are designated as essential and must work.
The text of the legislation reads, in part, "The needs of all workers must be at the forefront of the next round of policymaking to address the coronavirus crisis, including keeping workers on payroll even when they must stay home.
"Congress should ensure that any taxpayer dollars handed to corporations go to help workers, not wealthy CEOs, rich shareholders, or the president's cronies."
President Donald Trump signed into law last month a $2.2 trillion rescue package that provides money for many Americans and businesses because of the virus' impact on the U.S. Millions of people have filed for unemployment in recent weeks because of virus-related closures.
The IRS is expected to start providing money to American families this week.
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